Seed Potatoes, will there be a shortage?

[Bejazzle]

I keep hearing that there will be a potato shortage due to the wet weather, especially in Scotland.

Do I need to buy my seed potatoes now before they all run out? I have a discount voucher for garden4less but if I buy them now I don't know how to keep them until I am ready to plant them.

And when should I plant them?

Sorry to sound dippy but I am new spuds.

Love
Sazzle

ps I posted this on a different forum and realised nobody had posted on there since last year, this forum seems to be much more active.

Cant wait for your responses.

[WendyC]

The sooner you order the better the choice you'll get. I am expecting my order which I did in the Autumn to arrive in the next few weeks. When they arrive you need to spread them out in the light but frost free area. I use the garage. This is to "chit" them. Search on here and you'll find out about potatoes!

[SarzWix]

Ordering them now doesn't necessarily mean that they will appear straight away It just means you'll be near the head of the queue when they start dispatch. When they do arrive, you just set them out in egg boxes or something and keep them frost free until it's time to plant - I usually put mine in the porch, which is light and cool.

[Bejazzle]

I have just ordered my spuds!!

Kerrs Pink
Charlotte
Pink Fir Apple - These look so strange!!
Anya - Excited about trying these at it says they have a Nutty taste
Picasso

I am going to grow some at home and some at my parents.

I have booked the delivery for tomorrow so I will read the advice on here and get chitting tomorrow.

Love
Sazzle

[Bejazzle]

Ordering them now doesn't necessarily mean that they will appear straight away It just means you'll be near the head of the queue when they start dispatch. When they do arrive, you just set them out in egg boxes or something and keep them frost free until it's time to plant - I usually put mine in the porch, which is light and cool.

No, mine are coming tomorrow!

[Bejazzle]

Just got my spuds!!!! Ordered yesterday, got a text to say they would be here between 13:05 and 14:05 and they came at 13:20 and they are now in the garage in shallow, open cardboard boxes chitting in the garage!!!

Love
Saz

[Potstubsdustbins]

If you are new to spuds keep an eye on them.

The 'chits' or 'spruts' should be short and stubby what you don't want are long white ones.

Potty

[Bejazzle]

What if they start chitting too fast??

[lottie dolly]

What if they start chitting too fast??

just rub them of,this can be done aprox 3 or 5 times,i have never personaly need to do it more than once,
,if they inside in warmth,they will shoot very fast,please be carefull where you put them this time of year,as if we get the freezing weather again,your spuds could just mush,if they outside in sheds ext,the same as shed stored eaters,been there once ,if you only have a few,put them in the fridge draw,its enough to hold them back until aprox 6 weeks before planting,i am not planning on putting mine to chit yet,

[Peppermint]

That's interesting lottie dollie. I have some of my own potatoes I grew last year (Charlotte and Kestrel) which we are currently using for meals (we have great crops from both, bought from a local seed merchant). I think I'd like to use some as seed potatoes this year. Can I just put some of these into the bottom of the fridge for 6 weeks then and then put them to chit?

[MarkHackwell]

Funny you should say that I have read that several times and i dont think its as severe as they are saying however I have noticed that when I went to buy my Early Potatoes 'Rocket' from the Garden Center the other day they didnt have a label or none of them. I had to get Pentland Javelin instead so it may be something to do with the shortage.

As for getting them now, you can do or you can wait. If you do get them now place them in something like a cardboard egg box with the eyes (where the green shots appear) upwards and keep them in a light and cool place and keep checking them every now and then to see if they need turning

[frogga]

I bought mine today from the Garden Centre. They explained that once the shelves were empty, they may stay empty as the were struggling to get hold of many more due to prioritising the commercial growers. I took 8kg of seeds, of various varieties and that cost me £16, a lot more expensive than last year.

Andrew